Bears beat Navasota at Brule Field

Johnny Johnson

Published 7:00 pm, Friday, October 19, 2001

NAVASOTA - Montgomery traveled to Navasota Friday night looking to make history, something the Rattlers had on their side. The Bears had never won at Brule Field, also known as the Snake Pit. Throw in a homecoming crowd and the task facing the Bears was formidable indeed. But Montgomery found the resolve to break the lugubrious jink, pounding out a 27-8 victory, and in the process, making school history.

It was the second time Montgomery had ever beaten Navasota, the first coming at Bear Stadium last year. With the historic win, the Bears even their season record at 3-3, 1-1 in District 18-4A play.

Navasota, meanwhile, falls to 0-7, 0-2 in the loop.

"I am so proud of the kids," Montgomery coach Price Clifford said. "They have worked so hard. They just keep working and working and we tell them that good things will happen and it happened to them tonight. We won for the first time ever on Navasota's home field. It was a big win."

The good things started on the Bears second possession. Xavier Davis got the call and found three yards up the gut. Chris Sunday then called his own number but was stopped for no gain. Facing a third-and- seven, Sunday went up top to James Koenig, who was interfered with, giving Montgomery a fresh set of downs at the Rattler 45-yard line.

On the next play, Davis took a handoff from Sunday, hit up the middle, bounced outside, broke a tackle, and raced 43 yards down the left sidelines before being hauled down at the 2. Two plays later, Davis took advantage of some fine blocking by Jordan Sunday, Shawne Webb, Gary Blevins, Justin Pelt, Drew Lane, and Austin Parkins, and plowed over from the one. Michael Salazar's PAT was perfect and the Bears led 7-0 with 2:28 left in the opening quarter.

The Rattlers shot themselves in the foot on their next possession. Cole Zenor came up big when he pounced on a Jimmie Lipscomb fumble at the Navasota 39-yard line, and it didn't take the Bears long to make the Rattlers pay. Brandon Allen ripped off nine yards before Davis, found some nice running room over the middle for 20 yards and a first down at the 11-yard line.

Ashley Tyson then it took it the rest of the way as he found a huge hole over left tackle and sprinted into the endzone. Salazar's PAT split the uprights and Montgomery led 14-0 with only 10 ticks left in the opening frame.

Navasota then put together its best drive of the evening. Led by Charles Boggess, the Rattlers drove 73 yards in 18 plays, taking nine minutes off the clock. The payoff came on a fourth-and-ten when Boggess scrambled 13 yards to paydirt. The Rattlers then tried a little chicanery and it worked as Quinton Minor took the snap on the PAT attempt and dashed around the right end for the two points, leaving the Rattlers on the short end of a 14-8 score with three minutes left.

Montgomery had one more crack at Navasota but Salazar's 41-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half was wide right.

After the intermission, Koenig returned the second half kickoff 23 yards, giving the Bears excellent field position at their own 34-yard line. Davis picked up in the second half where he left off in the first, chewing up huge chunks of Navasota real estate. Davis ripped off gains of 12, 10, and 14 yards to set Montgomery up at the Navasota 32, but the drive stalled and Salazar entered to attempt a 43-yard field goal against a slight breeze. The kick was short and wide left and the Rattlers had dodged a bullet.

Navasota took over on its own 26, but the Bear defense, led by Jarrad Jensen, Ben Koehler, Justin Williams, Andrew Scherer, Vinnie Romano, and Kelly Scholl forced a three-and-out.

The Bears started their next drive on their own 42, but an illegal procedure penalty pushed them back to the 37. Davis then found an elephantine hole over left tackle and sprinted 63 yards for his second touchdown of the evening. Davis finished the night with 194 yards on 19 carries. On the point after, Montgomery opted to go for two and a 22-8 lead, but Sunday was dragged down at the one.

The Bear defense continued its outstanding play in the second half. Boggess was sacked for a two-yard loss by Scherer. Romano then broke up a pass intended for Sammy Douglas. On third down, Lipscomb weaved his way for 10 yards, bringing up a crucial fourth-and-two at the Rattler 42. Lipscomb tried the left side, but Scherer and Koehler came up big, stopping Lipscomb inches short of the first down.

"Coach Danny Freeman and his staff did a great job of making adjustments at halftime," Clifford said. "We had a little wider containment and were able to shut down No.4 (Boggess). He is a great player and he will make you miss. But our defense did a great job in the second half of shutting him down."

The Bears didn't miss Boggess on the next Rattler series. Boggess was hit by Williams and Koehler and coughed it up. Scholl fell on the loose pigskin at the Navasota 19 and two plays later, Sunday hit the left edge and scrambled 12 yards to light up the scoreboard.

Salazar's kick was true and the Bears were cruising 27-8 with 10:10 left in the contest.

Navasota had three more possessions, but Montgomery's parsimonious defense was as solid as the rock of Gibraltar.

Next Friday night the Bears entertain the Waller Bulldogs. "We are going to enjoy this win right now and start worrying about Waller tomorrow," Clifford said.